In a late-night order on Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) allowed the opening of shops as part of the easing of lockdown restrictions announced on April 15 with neighbourhood shops and others being allowed within the city and all shops except those in malls allowed outside the municipal limits with 50 per cent strength of workers.

As per Home Ministry order, shops that are allowed to reopen from today include those located in residential complexes within municipal areas, but at a 50 per cent strength and after taking necessary precautions.

The Union ministry of home affairs on Friday said, “all shops, including neighbourhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State and UT” are allowed to open during the lockdown.

The relaxations will not be applicable to coronavirus hotspots and containment zones. Shops are allowed to remain functional only with 50% of the staff. Wearing masks is mandatory for all. Union home ministry added that the social distancing must be strictly maintained.

List of shops that will open from Saturday:

1. Shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State/Union Territory will be allowed to open.

2. Shops located in residential complexes and market complexes, outside the municipal corporations and municipalities, will be allowed to open.

3. Neighbourhood shops, standalone shops and those in residential complexes within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, will be allowed to open

4. Shops located in registered markets located outside the municipal corporations and municipalities can open only with 50 per cent staff after following precautionary measures such as practicing social distancing, wearing masks etc.

5. Local salons and parlours will be allowed to open from Saturday.

6. All market are allowed to open in rural and semi-rural markets.

7. Shops and standalone stores in Urban areas would be allowed to operate only if they are located in residential areas.

List of shops that will remain closed:

1. All shops (multi brand or single brand) outside the limit of municipal corporations and municipalities will remain closed

2. Shops in market complexes and shopping malls within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities to remain closed.

3. Cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls will remain closed.

4. Famous shopping markets such as Sarojini Market, Nehru Place Market, Lajpat Market etc will remain closed.

5. All liquor shops (government owned/ private) will remain closed.

However, the Home Ministry also made it clear that the above-mentioned exemptions will not be applicable in locations identified as hotspot and containment zones across the country.

List of shops that will open from Saturday:

1. Shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State/Union Territory will be allowed to open.

2. Shops located in residential complexes and market complexes, outside the municipal corporations and municipalities, will be allowed to open.

3. Neighbourhood shops, standalone shops and those in residential complexes within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, will be allowed to open

4. Shops located in registered markets located outside the municipal corporations and municipalities can open only with 50 per cent staff after following precautionary measures such as practising social distancing, wearing masks etc.

5. Local salons and parlours will be allowed to open from Saturday.

6. All market are allowed to open in rural and semi-rural markets.

7. Shops and standalone stores in Urban areas would be allowed to operate only if they are located in residential areas.

List of shops that will remain closed:

1. All shops (multi brand or single brand) outside the limit of municipal corporations and municipalities will remain closed

2. Shops in market complexes and shopping malls within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities to remain closed.

3. Cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls will remain closed.

4. Famous shopping markets such as Sarojini Market, Nehru Place Market, Lajpat Market etc will remain closed.

5. All liquor shops (government-owned/ private) will remain closed.

However, the Home Ministry also made it clear that the above-mentioned exemptions will not be applicable in locations identified as hotspot and containment zones across the country.

The total number of coronavirus cases in India has climbed to 27,892. The death toll has increased to 872. India is under nationwide lockdown till May 3 to curb the spread of the virus which killed over 2 million worldwide. Earlier last week, the Centre eased few lockdown norms in the least affected places.